Personalized Learning

Compass Learning Unveils Personalized Learning Tool

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 02/18/15

Compass Learning has added GoQuest, a tool for differentiated and project-based learning, to its suite of online tools for inquiry-based and personalized learning.

Using a built-in Renzulli Profiler, GoQuest begins with a summary of each student's expression style, interests and learning preferences, then "uses a proprietary differentiation engine to match activities and projects to specific student interests and preferences, providing students access to a database of more than 40,000 vetted resources that fit their learning profile," according to a news release.

"The idea is simple; if Sally indicates that she likes sports and prefers to learn visually, then her teacher would be able to easily assign learning activities, like a virtual field trip to Athens to learn about the first Olympic games or nonfiction reading passages of famous athlete biographies," said Colin Magee, director of product management at Compass Learning, in a prepared statement. "Teachers can sort through the database of resources by topic, grade level, student interests, expression styles and learning preferences and they can quickly differentiate their instruction with just a click of the mouse."

Based on a student-centered model, GoQuest is designed to facilitate strategic inquiry and critical thinking by encouraging students to pursue their own interests while allowing teachers "to assign, mentor and evaluate activities and projects that meet student learning goals, standards and interests," according to information released by the company.

"I'm so excited to see what we can do as an education community when we are able to pinpoint how students prefer to learn and express themselves," said Eileen Shihadeh, vice president at Compass Learning, in a prepared statement. "Imagine the incredible growth students could experience when their teachers align projects and activities not only with the material students enjoy and are interested in, but also with the way each child wants to learn."

GoQuest is scheduled to be available in March and the company plans to make a variety of professional development options available as well. More information is available at compasslearning.com.